US9472355B2 - Oscillator-type switch - Google Patents

Oscillator-type switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US9472355B2
US9472355B2 US14/608,953 US201514608953A US9472355B2 US 9472355 B2 US9472355 B2 US 9472355B2 US 201514608953 A US201514608953 A US 201514608953A US 9472355 B2 US9472355 B2 US 9472355B2
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United States
Prior art keywords
horizontal direction
elastic member
base
oscillator
oscillation
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Active, expires
Application number
US14/608,953
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US20150221454A1 (en
Inventor
Kunio Hosono
Masahiro Takata
Takahiro Murakami
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Alps Electric Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
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Assigned to ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD. reassignment ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HOSONO, KUNIO, MURAKAMI, TAKAHIRO, TAKATA, MASAHIRO
Publication of US20150221454A1 publication Critical patent/US20150221454A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US9472355B2 publication Critical patent/US9472355B2/en
Assigned to ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD. reassignment ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD. CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/12—Push-buttons
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H21/00—Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H01H2215/006—Only mechanical function
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/008—Actuators other then push button
    • H01H2221/016—Lever; Rocker

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an oscillator-type switch.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic redrawing of an oscillator-type switch that is illustrated in FIG. 7 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-33429.
  • An elastic member 32 mounted on a base 31 and flexible in an up-down direction, an oscillation member 33 mounted on the elastic member 32 , an operation unit 34 set on the oscillation member, and a switch element 35 constitute the oscillator-type switch according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-33429.
  • This oscillator-type switch can be compact in size.
  • An oscillator-type switch includes a base, an elastic member mounted on the base and flexible in an up-down direction, an oscillation member having a base portion mounted on the elastic member and a driving section connected from the base portion in a first horizontal direction along an upper surface of the base, an operation unit set on the oscillation member, a reaction force application member that applies a reaction force to a downward movement of the driving section, and a detector that detects the downward movement of the driving section, in which the elastic member is arranged for a center line in the first horizontal direction within a range in which the elastic member is mounted on the oscillation member to be positioned outside a projection area of the operation unit in the first horizontal direction.
  • a direction of a rotational moment is the same as when the vicinity of the center of the operation unit is pressed even when a fixed end side end portion of the operation unit is pressed. Accordingly, a switch operation can be stably performed no matter which position of the operation unit is pressed.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of an oscillator-type switch according to a first embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the oscillator-type switch according to the first embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the oscillator-type switch according to the first embodiment taken along line III-III;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an oscillator-type switch according to a second embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a view showing a problem of the related art.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of the oscillator-type switch 1 . Viewed from an upper surface, the oscillator-type switch 1 is provided with a frame body 9 that has an opening 9 a and a key top 8 (operation unit) that is housed in the opening 9 a .
  • the key top 8 is subjected to a pressing operation by a finger that is illustrated by a dashed line.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the oscillator-type switch 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the oscillator-type switch 1 taken along line III-III.
  • a lowermost portion of the oscillator-type switch 1 is provided with a lower side substrate 4 , and a pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 (detection means) is placed on the lower side substrate 4 .
  • the lower side substrate 4 is a base.
  • a membrane switch sheet in which, for example, a lower fixed contact sheet, a spacer sheet, and an upper movable contact sheet are configured to be stacked in order, or the like constitutes the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 .
  • An elastic member 6 is mounted on the lower side substrate 4 .
  • a through-hole 5 a is formed at a position of the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 corresponding to the elastic member 6 so that the elastic member 6 and the pressure-sensitive switch sheet do not interfere with each other.
  • a material such as rubber and sponge constitutes the elastic member 6 .
  • An adhesive substance is applied to a lower surface 6 a of the elastic member 6 .
  • the lower surface 6 a is fixed to an upper surface of the lower side substrate 4 .
  • An adhesive substance is also applied to an upper surface 6 b of the elastic member 6 , and a lower surface of a base portion 7 a of an oscillation member 7 that is arranged on the elastic member 6 is fixed to the upper surface 6 b of the elastic member 6 .
  • a metal plate made of stainless steel or the like constitutes the oscillation member 7 .
  • a fixed end side of the oscillation member 7 is the base portion 7 a , and a part of the oscillation member 7 that is laterally connected from the base portion 7 a in a first horizontal direction D1 along the upper surface of the lower side substrate 4 is a driving section 7 b on a free end side.
  • a ridge portion 7 c that is formed to be bent downward is disposed in an edge portion of the oscillation member 7 on the base portion 7 a side.
  • the key top 8 is fixed onto the driving section 7 b of the oscillation member 7 .
  • the frame body 9 is arranged on the oscillation member 7 for the opening 9 a to surround the key top 8 .
  • a reversal spring 10 is arranged in the vicinity of the center of the key top 8 and between the driving section 7 b of the oscillation member 7 and the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 .
  • the reversal spring 10 functions as a reaction force application member that applies a reaction force and applies a click feeling when the driving section 7 b of the oscillation member 7 is moved downward.
  • the reversal spring 10 may comprise a metallic material such as stainless steel.
  • the oscillation member 7 oscillates on a center line C of the elastic member 6 in the first horizontal direction D1 as a fulcrum that is within a range in which the elastic member 6 is mounted on the oscillation member 7 , and the driving section 7 b is moved downward.
  • the reversal spring 10 applies the reaction force and applies the click feeling to the driving section 7 b .
  • a central portion of the reversal spring 10 presses the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 so that the pressing operation is detected.
  • the elastic member 6 is arranged for the center line C in the first horizontal direction D1 within the range in which the elastic member 6 is mounted on the oscillation member 7 , that is, within the range of the upper surface 6 b in close contact with the oscillation member 7 , to be positioned outside a projection area of the key top 8 in the first horizontal direction D1, that is, outside a fixed end side end portion 8 a of the key top 8 . Accordingly, even when the fixed end side end portion 8 a of the key top 8 is pressed, a direction of a rotational moment is the same as when the vicinity of the center of the key top 8 is pressed. Accordingly, a switch operation can be stably performed no matter which position of the key top 8 is pressed.
  • the oscillation member 7 is provided with the ridge portion 7 c that protrudes downward from the edge portion on the base portion side in the first horizontal direction D1 and extends in a second horizontal direction D2 which is parallel to the upper surface of the lower side substrate 4 and is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction D1. Accordingly, rigidity of the oscillation member 7 can be high, and deflection of the oscillation member 7 can be suppressed when an end portion of the key top 8 , particularly the vicinity of the edge portion in the second horizontal direction D2, is pressed. Accordingly, the switch operation can be stably performed.
  • the ridge portion 7 c can also be disposed in a place other than the base portion side but a stroke of the oscillation member 7 may not be ensured in this case.
  • the ridge portion 7 c may be allowed to protrude upward but design of the oscillation member 7 may be degraded in this case. In the first embodiment, however, the ridge portion 7 c protrudes on the base portion side and downward, and thus the stroke and the design of the oscillation member 7 are not affected.
  • the elastic member 6 may be allowed to abut against a side surface of the ridge portion 7 c so that the elastic member 6 and the ridge portion 7 c can be positioned with respect to each other while being used.
  • the metal plate made of stainless steel or the like constitutes the oscillation member 7
  • a metallic reversal spring made of stainless steel or the like constitutes the reversal spring 10
  • the metallic reversal spring is arranged under the metal plate so that the metallic reversal spring and the metal plate are in direct contact with each other.
  • the high-rigidity oscillation member 7 is in direct contact with the high-rigidity reversal spring 10 , and thus thickness reduction and a comfortable click feeling can be achieved.
  • the operator operates at a position where the finger is directed toward the elastic member 6 from the reversal spring 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III.
  • a finger contact area is likely to be a ventral side of the finger rather than a fingertip, due to an angle between the finger and a key top surface, in a case where the key top 8 is subjected to the pressing operation and an operation load is likely to be suppressed by a natural operation and the click feeling can be stably achieved when the ventral side of the finger is arranged in a direction away from the elastic member that is the oscillation fulcrum.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the oscillator-type switch 20 according to the second embodiment.
  • the oscillator-type switch 20 three components, the lower side substrate 4 , the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 , and an intermediate sheet 11 that is interposed between the lower side substrate 4 and the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 to be exact, constitute the base.
  • an opening section 11 a is formed at a position under the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 and corresponding to the elastic member 6 .
  • the pressure-sensitive switch sheet 5 functions as a flexible sheet.
  • the opening section 11 a functions as a concave portion that is formed at a position under the flexible sheet and corresponding to the elastic member 6 .
  • the elastic member 6 is displaced downward when a position close to the oscillation fulcrum (center line C of the elastic member 6 herein) is subjected to the pressing operation. Accordingly, a difference between the stroke and the operation load occurring when a position far away from the oscillation fulcrum is pressed and the stroke and the operation load occurring when the position close to the oscillation fulcrum is pressed decreases, and a difference between operation feelings attributable to the pressing operation can be decreased.
  • the key top 8 is not disposed, the pressing operation is directly performed on an oscillation member 12 , and a part that is exposed from the opening 9 a of the frame body 9 is set as an operation surface 12 d .
  • a ridge portion 12 c protrudes upward to an edge portion on a driving section 12 b side.
  • a plurality of the oscillator-type switches according to the present invention may be arranged as a key input device such as a keyboard.
  • a stable input operation can be performed no matter which position of the operation unit is operated.
  • the base may be a common base and individual members such as the oscillation members, the elastic members, and the reaction force application members may be formed on the common base. If directions of the elastic members are aligned with respect to the reaction force application members of the plurality of oscillator-type switches in this case, the difference in operation load and click feeling attributable to the pressing operation can be suppressed for each of the operation units.
  • the oscillation member 7 and the reversal spring 10 are formed by using a metal, but may also be formed by using a resin or the like without having to be limited thereto.
  • the ridge portion 7 c is disposed in the oscillation member 7 , but the ridge portion 7 c may also be omitted in a case where, for example, the oscillation member 7 has a sufficient rigidity.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
US14/608,953 2014-02-05 2015-01-29 Oscillator-type switch Active 2035-05-03 US9472355B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2014020448A JP2015149150A (ja) 2014-02-05 2014-02-05 揺動型スイッチ
JP2014-020448 2014-02-05

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150221454A1 US20150221454A1 (en) 2015-08-06
US9472355B2 true US9472355B2 (en) 2016-10-18

Family

ID=53731518

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/608,953 Active 2035-05-03 US9472355B2 (en) 2014-02-05 2015-01-29 Oscillator-type switch

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US9472355B2 (ja)
JP (1) JP2015149150A (ja)
CN (1) CN104821251B (ja)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2015149150A (ja) * 2014-02-05 2015-08-20 アルプス電気株式会社 揺動型スイッチ
CN106650169A (zh) * 2017-01-03 2017-05-10 山东理工大学 非等偏频一级渐变刚度板簧悬架最大限位挠度的设计方法

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4430531A (en) * 1982-03-15 1984-02-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Snap disc keyboard
US5874697A (en) * 1997-02-14 1999-02-23 International Business Machines Corporation Thin keyboard switch assembly with hinged actuator mechanism
US20010047927A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2001-12-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switch button and method of manufacturing switch button
US6392179B1 (en) * 1997-08-27 2002-05-21 Schwarzbich Joerg Pushbutton unit
US20040129547A1 (en) * 2002-08-09 2004-07-08 Fujikura Ltd. Switch sheet and switch
US20040195082A1 (en) * 2003-04-03 2004-10-07 Toshisada Takeda Hinge key switch
US7381919B1 (en) * 2007-02-22 2008-06-03 Inventec Corporation Lever button of electronic product
US7635821B2 (en) * 2006-04-03 2009-12-22 Funai Electric Co., Ltd. Remote controller
US7829810B2 (en) * 2005-03-04 2010-11-09 Polymatech Co., Ltd. Pushbutton switch cover sheet
JP2012033429A (ja) 2010-08-02 2012-02-16 Polymatech Co Ltd 操作スイッチ
US20150221454A1 (en) * 2014-02-05 2015-08-06 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Oscillator-type switch

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10269893A (ja) * 1997-03-27 1998-10-09 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 一体型キートップならびにそれを用いたキー入力装置およびコンピュータ
JP2002208331A (ja) * 2001-01-12 2002-07-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 多方向操作スイッチ
JP2005293887A (ja) * 2004-03-31 2005-10-20 Teikoku Tsushin Kogyo Co Ltd 照光式押釦スイッチ
JP3927216B2 (ja) * 2005-05-16 2007-06-06 任天堂株式会社 ゲーム機用操作装置および携帯ゲーム機
JP5235853B2 (ja) * 2009-12-11 2013-07-10 レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド キーボード装置における発光素子の設置構造
JP5842527B2 (ja) * 2011-10-14 2016-01-13 オムロン株式会社 押ボタンスイッチおよびこれを用いた電子機器
WO2014013588A1 (ja) * 2012-07-19 2014-01-23 三菱電機株式会社 押しボタン構造
TWM464800U (zh) * 2013-02-08 2013-11-01 Ichia Tech Inc 薄型按鍵結構

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4430531A (en) * 1982-03-15 1984-02-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Snap disc keyboard
US5874697A (en) * 1997-02-14 1999-02-23 International Business Machines Corporation Thin keyboard switch assembly with hinged actuator mechanism
US6392179B1 (en) * 1997-08-27 2002-05-21 Schwarzbich Joerg Pushbutton unit
US20010047927A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2001-12-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Switch button and method of manufacturing switch button
US20040129547A1 (en) * 2002-08-09 2004-07-08 Fujikura Ltd. Switch sheet and switch
US20040195082A1 (en) * 2003-04-03 2004-10-07 Toshisada Takeda Hinge key switch
US6940030B2 (en) * 2003-04-03 2005-09-06 Minebea Co., Ltd. Hinge key switch
US7829810B2 (en) * 2005-03-04 2010-11-09 Polymatech Co., Ltd. Pushbutton switch cover sheet
US7635821B2 (en) * 2006-04-03 2009-12-22 Funai Electric Co., Ltd. Remote controller
US7381919B1 (en) * 2007-02-22 2008-06-03 Inventec Corporation Lever button of electronic product
JP2012033429A (ja) 2010-08-02 2012-02-16 Polymatech Co Ltd 操作スイッチ
US20150221454A1 (en) * 2014-02-05 2015-08-06 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Oscillator-type switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20150221454A1 (en) 2015-08-06
CN104821251B (zh) 2017-06-30
JP2015149150A (ja) 2015-08-20
CN104821251A (zh) 2015-08-05

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